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SOURCE H: AN EXTRACT FROM NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH MANDISA: What did my father do to you? What happened between the two of you? SIPHO: He never told you? MANDISA: No! I can’t stay here any longer - NSC Dramatic Arts - Question 5 - 2024 - Paper 1
Question 5
SOURCE H: AN EXTRACT FROM NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH MANDISA: What did my father do to you? What happened between the two of you? SIPHO: He never told you? MANDISA: No... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:SOURCE H: AN EXTRACT FROM NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH MANDISA: What did my father do to you? What happened between the two of you? SIPHO: He never told you? MANDISA: No! I can’t stay here any longer - NSC Dramatic Arts - Question 5 - 2024 - Paper 1
Step 1
5.3 Analyse how the actor playing Mandisa might use the vocal skills of pace, inflection and volume to deliver her lines in SOURCE H.
Answer
The actor portraying Mandisa can exploit her vocal skills effectively in the following ways:
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Pace: The performance should begin at a slower pace to convey Mandisa’s confusion and frustration. As her impatience grows, the pace can increase to express urgency, particularly when she exclaims about going out to dinner.
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Inflection: Changes in inflection are crucial. For instance, when Mandisa feels abandoned by her father, her tone can shift from anger to sorrow, highlighting her emotional turmoil. This variation helps to illustrate her complex feelings toward Sipho and her father.
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Volume: Starting softly when posing her questions can effectively draw the audience in, but escalating to a louder volume when confronting Sipho emphasizes her rising frustration and determination to uncover hidden truths.
Step 2
5.4 Motivate your choice of blocking for the female actors in lines 4–6.
Answer
In lines 4-6, the blocking choices should reflect the emotional stakes of the scene:
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Mandisa's Positioning: Blocking Mandisa in front of Thando allows her to take the emotional lead, showcasing her distress directly to Sipho.
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Thando's Role: Placing Thando slightly behind Mandisa implies her support while acknowledging the dominant emotional weight of Mandisa’s character, reflecting her protective nature.
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Spatial Dynamics: By ensuring that both women are facing Sipho, the blocking visually represents the confrontation, adding tension and highlighting their relationship dynamics.
Step 3
5.5 Explain to the actors why the scene in SOURCE H builds towards the climax of the play.
Answer
This scene is critical in building towards the climax because:
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Revelation of Truth: It exposes key secrets regarding family dynamics and unresolved issues, particularly Sipho's confrontation with Mandisa about her mother's departure.
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Emotional Tension: The escalating emotions create a palpable tension that signals a turning point in relationships, compelling the audience to anticipate the fallout.
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Character Development: This moment highlights character motivations, forcing them to confront their past, which intensifies the emotional stakes of the narrative.
Step 4
5.6 Justify whether the actions, gestures or body language of TWO actors in SOURCE I are appropriate for what happens in the scene in SOURCE H.
Answer
In analyzing the body language of Sipho and Mandisa:
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Sipho's Actions: His pacing and movements express agitation and desperation, appropriate as he struggles to confront the emotional turmoil of his past, indicating his internal conflict.
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Mandisa's Gestures: By folding her arms and not moving from her spot initially, Mandisa embodies a sense of defiance and determination, aligning well with her character’s emotional state as she seeks the truth.
These behaviors underline the tension and complexity of the familial relationships depicted in the scene.
Step 5
5.7 Discuss how the actors might create sensitive performances by applying Stanislavski’s System/Method in the preparation and performance of the scene.
Answer
By utilizing Stanislavski’s System/Method, actors can achieve sensitive performances through:
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Emotional Memory: Actors should rely on their own past experiences of loss or betrayal to bring authenticity to their roles, facilitating a deeper emotional connection to the character’s struggles.
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Given Circumstances: Understanding the context of the characters' lives, including their diverse backgrounds and histories, allows actors to embody their characters with greater depth, interpreting motivations realistically.
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Physical Actions: Engaging in physicality that reflects emotional states—such as tense postures or hesitant movements—can evoke genuine responses from both actors and audience, making the performance more engaging and realistic.